wound up

[blue_ice]

Who: Kaiba and open!
Where: Spa car
When: Imagination 4, very late at night
What: Someone gives into temptation to indulge and has potentially interesting discussions!
Warnings: Implied/possible mention of child abuse, other war/injury discussion possible. Will update if needed.



It's been...a day. Kaiba's spent time this evening working on how to talk to the others. It's clear as a train they need to regroup on a number of topics and make some changes, but how? And does he even want to try to facilitate? Not exactly his strong suit. He can already imagine the headache. He's sketched out a few potential outlines of topics to open the floor on. Maybe the memorial really is the simplest place to start?

But he's putting that out of his mind. After a late night in the standard car hunched over his notebook, he realizes that the train's fallen quiet in the night. Time to head back to bed. He moves through the largely-empty cars, but as the strange new scent of the spa car filters through in the corridor, he hesitates. The quiet is the perfect time, isn't it?

One ruffle through the closet and a quick shower trip later, he returns, carefully folding his legs beneath him as he sinks in. His torso's long enough that he's only covered up to the ribs and the old, angry red marks between his shoulder blades are exposed, but surely it's quiet enough that that's not an issue.

Finally...at last, he hears nothing but the sound of water lapping the edges of the pool. He can finally relax. He closes his eyes, rolling his shoulders back with a soft sigh.

"...hm. Not bad...maybe."

Comments

[shadowslipping]

Yuume suffice to say, tends to go to bed late. One could make jokes about hosts of darkness and whatnot, but ultimately the fact is simply that she has the tendency to get caught up in whatever has her focus. That having been in this case, her gym training.

Which of course meant a late shower, and of course, having heard there's now a hot tub, and determining it's too late for anyone in particular to be using it...

"...Ah."

Yuume, making use of towel and clean gym clothes, stares. "...Sorry, I didn't realize anyone was..."

awkward...

[blue_ice]

You'd think Seto would learn after the first few nights. But no...here he is late at night once more, indulging in a soak with his back turned. Once again, the door opens, and it takes a second but he recognizes his...great-great-grandniece's voice? Was that right?

And she's facing his back. Depending on how much she knows of their family history, this could be Bad. But...

He takes a steadying breath and shifts around to the side, looking up at her with a tired but not unwelcoming expression. Maybe she'll surprise him...and he did want to get to know her better.

"It's public space. You came all the way here...might as well. If I'm not bothering you."

[shadowslipping]

There's too many greats to really keep track of, ultimately- even her own family gave up on that one. As it stands, Yuume looks quite awkwardly put upon the spot as the one who walked in. Her eyes couldn't help but catch those scars either- scars she's not very much avoiding looking at. "Ahh...th..that is true I suppose...I had hoped not to disturb anyone however," she mutters, coming toward the water all the same. "...You're not bothering me. All I came to do was sit for a short while after all..."

[blue_ice]

"Then sit. The water's fine, I assure you."

Seto awkwardly shuffles his limbs to make room for her, very consciously aware of what she's seen. Does she know enough to guess...? He doesn't think so, judging by what she said at the meeting, but it's possible.

Deep breath. He's...somewhat prepared for that.

"You're not much of a sleep person either?"

[shadowslipping]

Well, she won't refuse at least- slipping into the water and leaning back with a small sigh. "Mnh? ...Ahh... ...I'll admit to having troubles with sleep typically, but truth be told I've slept quite well since arriving here..."

To be fair she doesn't know that the train literally knocks them out every night...but still.

"...I got rather caught up in training is all- I was working with a punching bag of sorts." She sort of had to make a mock-up, but it worked!

[blue_ice]

"With how cramped the cabins are? How fortunate..."

But Seto doesn't push the issue. He watches her curiously, idly flexing his fingers over the water. There's still so much hanging between them, but he can deal with it one issue at a time.

"I had my own makeshift targets---I've stocked up on knives, as continuing to throw my cards isn't the most practical idea."

To say the least. "You're prepared for death-defying on missions, then?"

[shadowslipping]

"Ahhh, they're a little tight certainly, but they aren't as troublesome as some things I've used before..." She doesn't say much about that however, instead focusing on what's been added to the conversation- raising an eyebrow slowly, and then nodding only a little slower than that.

"Throwing knives...and throwing cards? I suppose if you had made them out of some sort of sturdy metal it could have worked, but knives would be a little more damaging over all in a fight. Ah..." Mmm. Death-defying... "...In a manner of speaking, yes- it isn't too different from my line of work after all. If anything I suspect it may be a little calmer..."

[blue_ice]

Kaiba looks...suitably concerned. She was serious, wasn't she.

"...what is it you do, then?"

[shadowslipping]

"Ah?" Hmm. Hmmm. "Ahhh...I'm something of a Doctor- not of the medical sort but rather...hmm."

How does she explain this...without concerning him, it feels like it will concern him.... "In essence, I work with people's 'shadows'- parts of their souls. If something threatens to separate the two, I am one of those called to restore that."

[blue_ice]

"...mm. You clearly weren't in the family business, if that even exists anymore..."

Kaiba sounds wistful about that. "But the shadow magic still persists. Can you...see that kind of thing through casual interaction?"

[shadowslipping]

Ah.

"................." She blinks. "...oh...you must not have overheard..." Yuume, oddly, blushes with what's undoubtedly ashamed embarrassment. She coughs and looks to the side, muttering something to herself before speaking a bit louder.

"...'Shadows' are rather common in my era, Seto. It's considered an 'age of shadow' in fact, albeit supported with technology. One could even go so far as to say that technology is the reason the age of shadow failed to simply crush society backward a few steps...but the point is, it's not particularly a matter of if I can or can't 'see' anything. I wouldn't say anyone is using 'magic' in the way that they did in older eras according to other shadows of course, but as it stands, mnn... ...well, there is a reason the systems for traditional card games moved to 'Augmented Reality'...solid vision is rather dangerous in exposure to it..."

[blue_ice]

Kaiba listens quietly. He still doesn't entirely get it...but he nods.

"Must be draining work. At least the train's a break from it?"

[shadowslipping]

"It can be, yes...I'm hopeful of being able to at least transfer those skills though. Not...quite a vacation, but something of a break."

[blue_ice]

"It...can be a break, surprisingly. The people aren't bad, for the most part," Seto admits, rolling his head to the side to get a deeper stretch. Then the other side. It makes certain things behind his shoulders more visible, but he's fine. Really.

And then he thinks. "...I don't know how much valuable insight there is to be gained, given how many alternate Dominos exist, but can I ask a selfish question?"

[shadowslipping]

"I've noticed that...people here seem to have come together quite impressively, and it's nice to see..."

She's polite. Trying to be, at least. She won't comment on the scars, on how they're absolutely old ones, and-

"...A question? ...I can't guarantee I'll know the answer...but..." She nods.

[blue_ice]

Seto takes a deep, steadying breath, his head rolling forward. He'd just...have it much easier if he knew exactly where they stood.

"How much were you taught about my life? Specifically...the beginning and the end?"

[shadowslipping]

It's very brief. There seems to be something distant, even sad in her eyes.

She refuses to allow that to colour her words, however. He... ...No one would deserve that, she tells herself.

"...You were hailed as a very important man in my family, I can say that much. Personally, I wouldn't know much about your childhood- anything I've known has been achievements, and perhaps a small bit about the very end, from great-grandfather's words. Rather, 'great-great-great'...it's a mouthful after all," she chuckles quietly, glancing to the side.

Regardless. "...Was there something specific you were wondering about, Seto?"

[blue_ice]

Then she doesn't know where the scars came from. Seto notes that, briefly considers what that means...and then latches on to the end. Mokuba.

Regret. Abandonment.

"...how old was I when I died? Or left?"

[shadowslipping]

Ah....

Yuume stares for a moment- and ultimately her voice is distant, and saddened all at once. The words will hurt. She knows they'll hurt but...

"...What I am telling you... ...I am telling you, because if I lie, you will know. ...You're an intelligent person- vastly intelligent, more than any I've known at your age. ...I won't disrespect that," she says quietly, closing her eyes.

But ultimately...

"...We don't know, which of the two it was. If it was the latter, it wasn't willingly. If it was the former, the question of how remains in question. ...Mokuba was one of many to enter what we refer to as a 'Time Lock'- when a shadow is stolen from them, or killed, they become trapped in a timeless coma. He isn't the only one from your time to have had this occur- but he was one of the latest of them, having already grown, married, and had a child of his own."

The implication perhaps stands that Seto did not do so himself- perhaps he can find comfort in that, perhaps not. Regardless- "...At the time, people did not know how to wake them from this state. As it stands, the first official success was not until a number of years after you vanished, and after Mokuba re-awoke."

He can, perhaps, connect the dots.

[blue_ice]

That timing...it must have been at least a few years later. Perhaps he still had a little time to be the brother he should've been from the start. But Seto clenches his fists, nails digging into his palms...and the only reason they don't gain enough traction to bleed is that they're underwater. His mouth presses into a thin line, his shoulders tense, and it's taking everything he has to maintain even a thin shroud of composure.

"Damnit. Of course I would. But...how was he?"

He deserved better.

[shadowslipping]

".....Seto." Her voice is firm.

"What I am saying is that you were undoubtedly why he was allowed to wake at all. The first successful awakening of someone within timelock was not long before I was born. You would have been dead yourself before there could be a chance to rouse him. Whatever happened- whatever you did, allowed him to wake before he lost everyone he had known entirely."

[blue_ice]

Seto is adrift in the guilt that's been building for months, his gaze distant...but she manages to reel him back in a little. It still hurts, he's still digging his fingers into his chest, but.

He nods, shaky as it is.

"Sorry, I..."

He should. Probably explain himself.

"He means everything to me, and after everything I've gone through here...I've realized I've done a terrible job of showing it. I gave everything I had financially, but it's the other side of the equation I was awful at. I'm still working on that, and...thanks."

[shadowslipping]

Yuume doesn't speak for a moment, staring to him- or even through him, for a few long seconds.

"...When I was born, you were the first man I was compared to," she finally says quietly. "By an old, old man who had nothing but kindness to speak of. I can think of nothing else for someone to compare a newborn to, on the basis of. You may think only finance was what you gave...but whatever impression you left on my great-grandfather, it was far more meaningful than that," Yuume finishes, leaning back against the tub wall with a sigh.

"...That much...I can at least be sure of."

[blue_ice]

"Mokie..."

Seto's voice is full of strained emotion. Pain, longing...but fondness is the strongest of all. He relaxes a little, but there's still something.

Compared. His adoptive father's awful plan flashes through his mind. Mokuba would never do such a thing, but there were things he didn't know...awful actors with the same ideas could infiltrate the company without him around to stop it.

"What it took to become me...isn't something I'd wish on anyone," he admits softly. "The weight of expectations can too easily become a weapon."

[shadowslipping]

What an odd thing to say- but then, perhaps not, given those scars.

She nods. "...If it means anything, I doubt he would have thought if that way. The 'you' that most see, compared to someone like great-grandfather... ...I can't imagine he saw you as anything but wonderful. More than likely what he meant to convey was that I would hopefully be as good at heart. ...I can't say whether or not I would measure up in his eyes, truthfully."